Exomorphological Characters Research Articles

Ultra-sculpturing of seed morphotypes in selected species of genus Salvia L. and their taxonomic significance.

The taxonomic importance of macromorphological and micromorphological seed characteristics was investigated using SEM of ten species of the Salvia genus from Pakistan. The aim was to identify diagnostic seed ultrastructural features that could aid in species delimitation, correct identification and phylogenetic position. The ultrastructure of Salvia varies greatly, and a wide range of unique micromorphological features have been observed. Seed micromorphological features were explored by SEM, including seed shape, colour, texture, cell outline, surface sculpturing, epidermal cell arrangement, anticlinal, and periclinal wall pattern. Seed shapes were categorized as obovate, spherical, spheroid, broadly elliptic, elliptic and oblong, mostly with a terminal hilum. Seed colours were black, light brown, dark brown, brown and yellow. Exo-morphological characters, i.e. epidermal cell arrangements, included irregular, wavy pentagonal-hexagonal, regular pentagonal-hexagonal. Cluster analysis was used to assess similar and distinct species within Salvia with a feasible explanation. Taxonomic keys were made based on micromorphological qualitative features that help to delimit species and identify them quickly within the Salvia genus. Seed morphology of ten Salvia species was described and investigated, and the diagnostic significance of features evaluated using SEM. This study analysed seed features, especially at the species level, which might provide much new taxonomic information. The results revealed that, in seed morphology, using SEM can help with taxon identification, especially at the genus and species levels.

Growth enhancing effects of vermiwash and panchagavya on Dolichus lablab (lablab beans)

The present study dealt with the growth promoting effects of Dolichus lablab sprayed with and/or without vermiwash and panchagavya. Vermiwash is obtained from the vermicomposting unit and panchagavya is prepared using cow products such as milk, curd, urine, ghee and dung. Different concentrations of vermiwash and panchagavya (5, 10 and 15%) were applied to the bean plants once in every week for up to 105 days from June 2014 to September 2014. The exo-morphological characters such as shoot length, internode length, diameter of the internode, number of leaves and leaf surface area of D. lablab were recorded prior to every treatment in all groups. Garlic, ginger and asafoetida are mixed with cow urine and the resulting paste is used to control the pests and acts as pest repellent. Interestingly, 10% vermiwash and panchagavya treated D. lablab plants showed better growth promoting effects than the other treatment groups. Thus, the results of the present study clearly suggest that vermiwash and panchagavya could be used as effective foliar sprays in the near future.

- Micromorfología y estructura de los frutos en Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae) y su valor sistemático en las especies de América austral.

El género Bulbostylis Kunth incluye aproximadamente 150 especies que habitan zonas tropicales y subtropicales en todo el mundo. En Bulbostylis, al igual que en otros géneros de Ciperáceas, la exomorfología de los frutos es uno de los caracteres más estables para la clasificación infragenérica. En este trabajo se dan a conocer la micromorfología y estructura de los frutos de Bulbostylis para veinte especies de América Austral, representadas en Argentina, Brasil (Paraná, Santa Catarina y Rio Grande do Sul), Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay. En base a estudios con microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido se proponen agrupamientos, teniendo en cuenta la micromorfología de los aquenios así como la presencia y tipo de silicofitolitos. También se realizan microanálisis químicos de los frutos con EDX/ MEB. Se actualiza el sistema de descripción basado en caracteres exomorfológicos, aplicable a frutosy semillas.

Growth Promoting Effects of Vermiwash and Panchagavya on Dolichus Lablab under Field Experimental Conditions

The present study explores the growth promoting effects of vermiwash and panchagavya on Dolichus lablab. Vermiwash was obtained from the vermicomposting unit and panchagavya was prepared using cow products such as milk, curd, urine, ghee and dung. Different concentrations of vermiwash and panchagavya (5:2%, 10:3% and 15:4%) were applied to the bean plants once in every week for 90 days. The exo-morphological characters such as shoot length, internode length, diameter of the internode, number of leaves, leaf surface area and chlorophyll content were recorded prior to every treatment in all the groups. Interestingly, 10:3% vermiwash and panchagavya treated lablab beans showed better growth promoting effects than the other plants. Thus, the results of the present study clearly suggest that 10:3% vermiwash and panchagavya could be used as effective foliar spray in the near future.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(4): 513-518

<I>Mayariochloa</I>, a New Monotypic Genus Segregated from <I>Scutachne</I> (Poaceae, Panicoideae, Paniceae)

Abstract The genus Scutachne (Poaceae, Paniceae) is revised. This American genus, which included two species from the Caribbean, was circumscribed on the basis of morphological and molecular characters. To analyze both species of the genus, S. amphistemon and S. dura, a detailed study of the micromorphology of the upper anthecium and leaf anatomy, together with exomorphological characters, was performed. Both species differ in vegetative and reproductive characters, including blade distribution, ligules, presence of axillary inflorescences, consistency of upper glume, lower lemma, and lower palea, presence of a lower flower, upper anthecium ornamentation, and presence of a rachilla extension. Anatomically, S. dura is a C4 PCK species, while S. amphistemon is a C3, non-Kranz taxon. The molecular phylogenetic analysis supports these morphological differences. As a result, we concluded that Scutachne, as presently circumscribed, is a polyphyletic genus. Therefore, the genus is here redefined and S. amphistem...

Cladistic Analysis ofTrichocereus(Cactaceae: Cactoideae:Trichocereeae) Based on Morphological Data and Chloroplast Dna Sequences

Abstract: Trichocereus (Cactaceae: Cactoideae: Trichocereeae) is a South American genus primarily inhabiting arid and semiarid areas in the Andean region of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. The phylogenetic relationships of Trichocereus were examined on the basis of 39 exomorphological characters and chloroplast DNA sequences trnL-F and rpl16 for 17 species of Trichocereus, including three other genera of the tribe Trichocereeae (Echinopsis, Lobivia, Setiechinopsis), two of Notocacteae (Eulychnia, Wigginsia) and one of the Hylocereeae (Harrisia). The simultaneous phylogenetic analysis of both morphological data and noncoding DNA sequence data recovered Trichocereus as monophyletic if two species of Harrisia are part of it. Moreover, the Trichocereus clade is supported by three synapomorphies: basitonic growth with prostrate branches, imbricate scales along the floral tube, and subglobose fruits.

Taxonomical study of species Zygophyllum fabago L. in Iraq.

The present study dealt with taxonomic characters of species Zygophyllum fabago L. in Iraq . this study included the exo-morphological characters which indicated that the species was sub-shrub with solid stem and swallow nodes ,with compound bifoliate and stipulate leaves, the flower is complete and perfect with clawed petals . stamen colored with scaly appendage , fruit capsule with ribs . Anatomical study of vegetative parts indicate that the sclerenchymal tissue was very diffuse in stem such as fibers and sclerides ( stone cells ) , the leaves were bifacial . The geographical distiribution of the species plants was studied . The results supported with photographs

Taxonomical study of species Zygophyllum fabago L. in Iraq.

The present study dealt with taxonomic characters of species Zygophyllum fabago L. in Iraq . this study included the exo-morphological characters which indicated that the species was sub-shrub with solid stem and swallow nodes ,with compound bifoliate and stipulate leaves, the flower is complete and perfect with clawed petals . stamen colored with scaly appendage , fruit capsule with ribs . Anatomical study of vegetative parts indicate that the sclerenchymal tissue was very diffuse in stem such as fibers and sclerides ( stone cells ) , the leaves were bifacial . The geographical distiribution of the species plants was studied . The results supported with photographs

Variability along a latitudinal gradient in the chiasma frequency and morphological characters of Dichroplus pratensis (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The grasshopper Dichroplus pratensis Bruner is polymorphic and polytypic for a complex Robertsonian system. In this species, centric fusions induce changes in number and position of chiasmata, and thus potentially affect intrachromosomal genetic recombination and genetic variability. Males and females, from 23 populations covering most of the geographic range of the species and spanning 22 degrees of latitude, were studied. We analyzed chiasma frequency in relation to variability in six exomorphological characters. The chromosomal polymorphisms of D. pratensis are widely geographically distributed, and show a central-marginal pattern, in which the central populations (those occupying the ecologically optimal habitats) have high mean frequencies of different fusions per individual (F) of up to F = 3.00 and total chiasma frequencies as low as XT = 8.98 per cell, while those near the margins of the distribution (central Patagonia and the Andes) have very low levels of chromosomal polymorphisms [down to F = 0.00 in most geographically marginal locations), monomorphic karyotypes and high chiasma frequencies (XT = 11.66, in the southernmost (Rada Tilly, 45°57´S) and XT = 12.01 in the northernmost population (Volcan, 23°55´S)]. Increasing chiasma frequencies towards the margins of the range are positively and significantly correlated with increasing levels of morphological variability. The decrease in fusion polymorphism and the consequent increase in genetic recombination (both inter- and intrachromosomal) in the marginal areas, is a result of natural selection favouring higher levels of variability, which could be adaptive in ecologically harsher and changing environments.

Systematic Revision and Phylogeny of Paspalum Subgenus Ceresia (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae)

Twenty-five species are treated in this work, in which exomorphological characters are analyzed cladistically. Species of Paspalum subg. Ceresia are characterized by their rigid, filiform to lanceolate blades, inflorescences with one to several racemes, rachis of the racemes winged and hyaline to membranous, spikelets pilose, occasionally glabrous, with the upper anthecium pale, hyaline to membranous, occasionally chartaceous, and the upper lemma not enclosing the tip of the upper palea. Species grow in South America from Mexico to Argentina and Uruguay. A cladistic analysis of subgenus Ceresia was conducted to test its monophyly, and to establish its relationship with other groups of Paspalum. A key to the species in subgenus Ceresia is given, as well as morphological description and illustration, and distribution maps.

Contribucion a la Filogenia del Genero Paspalum (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae)

Paspalum L. has approximately 330 species and a large geographical distribution, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of America. Due to the morphological variability among the species, different authors have proposed dividing the genus into subgenera, sections, or informal groups. A cladistic analysis of Paspalum was conducted using anatomical foliar and exomorphological characters to test its monophyly and its phylogenetic relationships among representative species. The degree of character homoplasy was analyzed in order to estimate the diagnostic value of anatomical characters among groups. For the cladistic analysis, 47 species of 27 groups established by Chase, with modification established by Cialdella et al. and Morrone et al., and 36 exomorphological and anatomical foliar characters were considered. The data matrix was analyzed with Nona and Pee-Wee, parsimony programs using equal weights and implied weighting. The present phylogenetic analysis confirms that Paspalum is a paraphyletic group and shows close relationships with Axonopus and Thrasya in Paniceae.

EL POLEN DE HELICTERES (STERCULIACEAE) y SU COMPARACIÓN CON GÉNEROS VECINOS

Pollen grains of 41 species representing all seven sections of Helicteres were studied with light and scanning electron microscopy and described. In order to establish palynological affinities Neoregnellia cubensis, Kleinhovia hospita, Reevesia thyrsoidea, Veeresia clarkii, Ungeria floribunda and Pterospermum acerifolium were also examined. Helicteres is palynologically rather uniform with respect to the shape and size of the grains as well as the type and number of the apertures. The pollen grains are usually triporate, oblate or suboblate, amb triangular and medium sized. Nevertheless the exine surface shows great variability. Nine pollen types are recognized on the basis of the sculpture of the exine: Type 1, tectate-perforate, baculate, in sect. Helicteres; Type 11, tectate-perforate, psilate to weakly verrucate, in 4 species of sect. Orthocarpaea; Type 111, tectate-perforate, with the equatorial zone verrucate and the poles psilate, in sect. Stegogamos; Type IV, microreticulate, verrucate, in sect. Polyandria; Type V, tectate, scabrate, verrucate, in sect. Alicteres; Type VI, tectate-perforate, verrucate, in 2 species of sect. Orthocarpaeaand 4 species of sect. Orthothecium; Type VII, tectate-perforatefossulate, verrucate, the verrucae large, irregular in outline, often anastomosed, in 3 species of sect. Orthothecium; Type VIII, tectate to tectate-perforate-fossulate, perforations and fossulae as well as micro-verrugae and micro-echinae densely concentrated at the poles, the equatorial zone psilate or scabrate, in 3 species of sect. Orthothecium; Type IX, tectateperforate- fossulate, microechinate, the perforations and fossulae densely concentrated at the poles, the micro-echinae distributed throughout the surface but hardly differentiated on the poles, in 16 species of sect. Sacarolha and 5 species of sect. Orthothecium. The pollen types are ordered according to the complexity of the exine; with the types with uniform sculpture considered simpler and the types with polar and equatorial zones differentiated considered complex. Keys to identify the nine pollen types of Helicteres and the pollen types of related genera are presented. According to pollen morphology Neoregnellia is closely connected with Helicteres; this genus shares the same pollen type, IX, with sect. Sacarolha and some species of sect. Orthothecium. The pollens of Kleinhovia and Helicteres have many characters in common (shape, size, apertures), the only difference being the microreticulate surface of the former; they are rather close to each other. Reevesia thyrsoidea, Veeresia clarkii and Ungeria floribunda stand apart from Helicteres in having 3-5 brevi-colp(or)ate and suprareticulate grains. The very distinctive pollen of Pterospermum acerifolium (Iarge size, spheroidal, echinate) supports its segregation from the tribe Helictereae. In Helicteres the different patterns of exine sculpture have taxonomic and phylogenetic value. In the first place, they allow the recognition of the 4 monospecific sections (Helicteres, Stegogamos, Alicteres and Polyandria) and at the same time they reveal the coherence of the genus, since the other 3 sections which have many species (Orthocarpaea, Orthothecium and Sacarolha) are connected with each other not only by exomorphological characters but also by pollen characters. In the second place, they provide bases for interpreting infra-generic relationships and the possible origin of the genus.Two possible evolutionary trends of exine sculpture, which are representated in two diagrams, are proposed. The first possibility starts with the Type VI; from this pollen type the evolutionary trend would have diverged in several directions. On one side, a line would lead toward increasing complexity of the exine that would end in Type VIII. This kind of pollen grain would have given rise to Type IX. On the other side, several divergent lines might have taken place; modifications in the exine sculpture would have led toward a progressive simplicity that would culminate in the absence of sculptural elements of Type 11. From this kind of pollen grain Type I might have evolved. The second possibility starts from Type 11; in this case the evolutionary trend of the exine would have gone in only one direction; the exine would have acquired more and more complexity, giving rise to pollen types connected with each other by transitional forms.

The Deschampsia cespitosa complex in central and northern Europe: a morphological analysis

Fifty-four exomorphological characters were recorded from 130 herbarium specimens belonging toDeschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. subsp. cespitosa, D. alpina (L.) Roem. et Schult D. bottnica (Wahlenb.) Trin D. cespitosa subsp. glauca (Hartm.) C. Hartm D. littoralis (Gaudin) Reuter, D. cespitosa subsp. parviflora (Thuill.) K. Richter and D. wibeliana (Sond.) Parl. These were treated as Operational Taxonomical Units (OTUs) and studied using cluster analysis, principal component analysis and the Mann–Whitney U-test; box plots of selected quantitative characters were also made. To evaluate the relationship between environment and morphology, a redundancy analysis was carried out. Due to extensive overlapping in the diagnostic characters, all the taxa at specific level are reduced to subspecies of Deschampsia cespitosa. Geographical distribution is considered to be of considerable importance in the identification of the taxa.

The Deschampsia cespitosa complex in central and northern Europe: a morphological analysis

Fifty-four exomorphological characters were recorded from 130 herbarium specimens belonging toDeschampsia cespitosa (L.) P. Beauv. subsp. cespitosa, D. alpina (L.) Roem. et Schult D. bottnica (Wahlenb.) Trin D. cespitosa subsp. glauca (Hartm.) C. Hartm D. littoralis (Gaudin) Reuter, D. cespitosa subsp. parviflora (Thuill.) K. Richter and D. wibeliana (Sond.) Parl. These were treated as Operational Taxonomical Units (OTUs) and studied using cluster analysis, principal component analysis and the Mann–Whitney U-test; box plots of selected quantitative characters were also made. To evaluate the relationship between environment and morphology, a redundancy analysis was carried out. Due to extensive overlapping in the diagnostic characters, all the taxa at specific level are reduced to subspecies of Deschampsia cespitosa. Geographical distribution is considered to be of considerable importance in the identification of the taxa.

The genus Poa in Patagonia (Argentine): a phenetic analysis of species of Poa subgenus Poa

Fifty-eight quantitative and qualitative exomorphological characters were recorded on 48 herbarium specimens belonging to rhizomatous species belonging to the genusPoa. These were treated as OTUs and analysed, together with the data from caespitose species treated in a previous paper, using cluster analysis, principal component analyses and stepwise discriminant analyses. The following hypotheses are proposed and discussed. (1) There is no evidence supporting the hypothesis that growth habit characterizes supraspecific entities. (2)P. trivialis, P. secunda, P. subenervisand probablyP. compressaseem to be well defined species; those remaining are not discriminated through phenetic analysis. (3) There are no phenetic gaps between the rhizomatous species included in theP. oligeria–P. yaganica–P. chrysanthacomplex and the caespitoseP. hachadoensis; it is not clear that this single character supports its segregation. (4) The obscurity of the pattern of the species related toP. pratensis–P. nemoralisis probably explained by the capability ofP. pratensisto introgress with taxonomically distant species and by the possibility of seasonal intraindividual variation of some characters. (5) The geographical origin of some species postulated as introduced seems to be doubtful.

The genus Poa in Patagonia: a phenetic analysis of monoclinous caespitose expanded-panicled species

Fifty-eight quantitative and qualitative exomorph-ological characters were recorded on 84 herbarium specimens, which were regarded as OTUS. Cluster analysis and principal component analyses were performed. Four species, P.secunda Presl, P.nemoratis L., P. Trivialis L.and P.hachadoensis Nicora, were recognized on the basis of strictly phenetic criteria. Descriptions of species are provided, as well as a key for their identification.

The genus Poa in Patagonia: a phenetic analysis of monoclinous caespitose expanded-panicled species

Fifty-eight quantitative and qualitative exomorphological characters were recorded on 84 herbarium specimens, which were regarded as OTUs. Cluster analysis and principal component analyses were performed. Four species, P. secunda Presl, P. nemoralis L., P. trivialis L. and P. hachadoensis Nicora, were recognized on the basis of strictly phenetic criteria. Descriptions of species are provided, as well as a key for their identification.

Phenetic relationships in the Festuca spp. from Patagonia

Forty-two anatomical and exomorphological characters from 16 species and 2 varieties of Festuca native from Patagonia were numerically analyzed. Principal components analysis together with cluster analysis arranged 14 taxa into 5 groups (F. tunicata and F. acanthophylla, group 1; F. monticola, F. thermarum, and F. scabriuscula, group 2; F. pallescens, F. p. var. scabra, and F. kurtziana, group 3; F. gracillima and F. ventanicola, group 4; and F. contracta, F. rubra var. simpliciuscula, F. pyrogea, and F. magellanica, group 5; F. argentina, F. purpurascens, F. cirrosa and F. pampeana were not included in any of the groups). Cluster analyses performed on either vegetative or reproductive characters showed that they alone are not enough to summarize variation among these taxa.

Distributional Survey of the Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri: A Proposed Endangered Species

Distributional Survey of the Yellow Mud Turtle (Kinosternon flavescens) in Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri: A Proposed Endangered Species

Heteroarthrocarpy in «Trachystoma» and «Ceratocnemum» (Cruciferae) from Morocco

Abstract The anatomy and mode of growth of the heteroarthrocarpic fruits of Trachystoma (T. apbanoneumm Maire & Weiller, T. ballii O. E. Schulz and T. labasii Maire) and Ceratocnemum (C. rapistroides Coss. & Bal.) are studied; the fruit of Erucastrum littoreum (Pau & F. Quer) Maire is also included for comparison as it shows the same trend developed to a much lesser extent. A short description of all present tissues is given. Evaluations of the growth of ovaries and siliques have shown that a) mitosis continues in these fruits after anthesis, and b) the bigger a fruit segment (valvar or rostral) is, the higher mitotic activity is registered. The presence of layers of abscission tissue between the replum and the valvae is here considered to be a sign of primitiveness. In general, fruit anatomy is closely related to other exomorphological characters.